via tvline.com

PREVIOUSLY ON... | Hetty shook up the team by sending Kensi off with Granger on a top-secret mission in Afghanistan, thus (somewhat) disrupting the growing closeness between Deeks and his partner.

COMING UP NEXT | Kensi's assignment "came at the very, very worst possible time for her and Deeks," show boss Shane Brennan acknowledges. "But it's been a lot of fun, and we've really enjoyed doing it" – which is in essence found gold, seeing as Season 5 wasn't headed that way until it needed to set up Daniela Ruah's maternity leave. And while Brennan long ago ruled out writing in that pregnancy, "Densi" nonetheless is on track to experience a shock "that turns everything on its head … and impacts them in a very, very, very big way." Until then and elsewhere, viewers can count on "a lot of fun episodes" that play off the classic Callen/Sam chemistry, an episode where Deeks goes undercover as a "fabulous" interior decorator named Sven and a February sweeps outing guest-starring Danny Trejo (Machete) as a man from Hetty's past. And while Nell will continue to find herself "out and about" with field assignments, Eric's "past life pays a call on him" on or around Episode 17.

Ausiello: It’s TBD on both fronts, although I hear there’s a good chance Bones‘ next original episode — tentatively scheduled for March 10 — will pay tribute to the beloved actor in the form of an “in memoriam” title card.

THE TEAM INVESTIGATES A CASE THAT CALLS NELL TO JOIN DEEKS IN THE FIELD, WHILE ERIC IS GIVEN A NEW PARTNER IN OPS, ON “NCIS: LOS ANGELES,” TUESDAY, APRIL 8

“Windfall” – When the NCIS: Los Angeles team investigates a case involving a former marine who is being tracked down by members of al Qaeda for embezzling money from Iraq, Hetty assigns Nell to join Deeks in the field. Meanwhile, Eric is given a new partner in Ops, on NCIS: LOS ANGELES, Tuesday, April 8 (9:00-10:01 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

CHEAT TWEET: Nell joins Deeks in the field and Eric is given a new partner in ops! #NCISLA #CBS 4/8 9/8c bit.ly/1duReOZ

WHEN THE SOFTWARE FOR A HIGHLY SOUGHT-AFTER UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE IS STOLEN AND THE LEAD ENGINEER’S 10-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER GOES MISSING, SAM IS CONVINCED THE TWO ARE RELATED, ON “NCIS: LOS ANGELES,” TUESDAY, APRIL 29

“One More Chance” – Sam is convinced that the theft of software for a new unmanned aerial vehicle is connected with the disappearance of the lead engineer's 10-year-old daughter, a girl Sam once provided protection detail for in Saudi Arabia, on NCIS: LOS ANGELES, on NCIS: LOS ANGELES, Tuesday, April 29 (9:00-10:01 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Although executive producer Shane Brennan doesn't plan to fully explore that relationship until next season, there is one thing 'shippers should look forward to: the reveal of what's inside the box Kensi gave Deeks back in Season 4. "That box gets opened," Brennan says. "It's a lovely moment between the two of them." Alas, that moment could quickly be ruined by the return of DEA Agent Talia in the season finale.

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Will a casting suffice? When the team investigates a shooting at a Department of Defense accounting firm, they’ll seek the assistance of Doug Ouellet (Intelligence alum John Billingsley), who is guilt-ridden that he’s one of the survivors, but he’ll do his best to keep his composure while helping the team determine whether hundreds of undercover missions have now been compromised.